Home Decor

Bags

Stationery

Artist's Description

On Thursday 16 May, the aircraft of the Eagle Squadron were lined up together on the airfield at IWM Duxford for the first time. The Eagle Squadron opens the flying display at the Spring Air Show on Sunday 26 May. It will fly in four-ship formation, in pairs and also in an evocative display alongside B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B.

The aircraft, Hawker Hurricane AE977 G-CGTK, Supermarine Spitfire MkIa AR213 G-AIST, Republic P-47G Thunderbolt G-CDVX and P-51C Mustang Princess Elizabeth N487FS have not been seen together in the UK before.

P-51C Mustang Princess Elizabeth was shipped over from the USA specifically to take part in the Eagle Squadron display, while the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire have received new paint schemes especially for the display, honouring particular American pilots whose inspiring wartime stories stand the test of time.

Paul Bonhomme, a Red Bull Air Race pilot and veteran of over 700 air show flights in historic aircraft, flew the Hawker Hurricane before landing it next to the Spitfire, Mustang and Thunderbolt on IWM Duxford’s historic airfield.

Of the Hawker Hurricane, Paul said: “The Hurricane is light and incredibly manoeuvrable to fly. It turns very quickly but it was very slow as a combat aircraft, it didn’t have the legs. It’s an important piece of 1920s and 1930s heritage and incredibly impressive for what it achieved during the 1940s.”

This year, IWM Duxford is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the American air forces arriving at RAF Duxford during the Second World War. The Spring Air Show takes place exactly 70 years to the day that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited RAF Duxford to welcome the 78th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces to Great Britain.

Of the importance of commemorating this anniversary, Paul Bonhomme said: “ In the same way that the memories of RAF Duxford are important, it is vital to remember the bravery of the young people who stuck their necks out in the support of world freedom, to ensure that we are here doing what we do today.”